Kentucky to receive $1.5M to prepare for flu season amid coronavirus

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kentucky received $1.5 million to scale up preparations for the 2020-21 flu season, especially for vulnerable Kentuckians, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday.

These federal funds, distributed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were made available by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“Even as we face the current health and economic crisis of the coronavirus, we must also prepare for the upcoming flu season and promote the continued health of Kentucky families,” said McConnell.

“Each year, we work to promote access to the flu vaccine as a way to help stop the spread of the virus,” said Barren River District Health Department Director Matt Hunt. “As we continue responding to COVID-19, I’m especially grateful Senator McConnell is putting an emphasis on influenza preparedness.”

In addition to these federal funds, the CARES Act has had an $11 billion impact in Kentucky so far. The legislation has delivered $3.6 billion in relief to address urgent housing, transportation, healthcare, education and economic development priorities. The legislation also created the Paycheck Protection Program, which is helping more than 46,000 Kentucky small businesses access over $5.2 billion in loans to keep their lights on and employees on payroll. Kentucky families have also received more than $3.2 billion in Economic Impact Payments from the U.S. Treasury.